Styrene

What is styrene?

Styrene is a harmful chemical used in the production of polystyrene, a widely used plastic that harms health and the environment during production, use, and disposal.[1] It is also used to make high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), and other plastics. Styrene is associated with increased risk of leukemia and lymphoma, and can be found in air, water, and soil.[1, 2] Despite its known health hazards, companies continue to produce styrene to make plastics and rubber with end uses in packaging, building materials like insulation, and food-contact items.[1]

How am I exposed to styrene?

From production and use to disposal, styrene poses serious threats to human health and the environment since it gets released into air, water, and soil by styrene and plastics manufacturers.[3] While styrene has been detected in water and soil, the main way people can be exposed is by breathing in contaminated air; workers in industries using styrene have the highest exposure.[4]

• Air: in 2022, U.S. facilities reported releasing 32 million pounds of styrene into the air, exposing workers at styrene plants and communities living nearby to contaminated air.[3] Cars and cigarette smoke are also sources.
• Water: styrene has been detected in groundwater and drinking water. People can be exposed to styrene by drinking contaminated drinking water.[1]
• Consumer products: people can be exposed to styrene through ingestion, since styrene can leach from polystyrene food-contact items and has been found at low levels in food, and from breathing in indoor air contaminated by styrene emitted from building materials.[5, 6]

Why should I be concerned?

Styrene has been identified as a probable human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP).[1, 7] More than 10 billion pounds of styrene are produced in the U.S. each year, with many facilities located in areas with other fossil fuel and petrochemical plants, disproportionately impacting communities already burdened by toxic chemical pollution.[8, 9]

The creation of styrene involves benzene and ethylbenzene, chemicals that are also harmful to human health.[10] Benzene is a carcinogen linked to leukemia as well as cancers of the blood that can also cause reproductive harm.[11] Ethylbenzene is a possible human carcinogen, and causes skin and eye irritation as well as kidney, lung, and liver cancer in animal studies.[12] 

Health effects of styrene include:

• Cancer: styrene exposure is associated with increased rates of leukemia and lymphoma.[2]
• Acute exposure: short-term exposure to styrene is associated with eye and nose irritation, respiratory effects such as mucous membrane irritation, and gastrointestinal effects.[13]
• Chronic exposure: long-term exposure to styrene is associated with effects on the central nervous system such as vision changes and other symptoms including headache, weakness, dizziness, and fatigue.[13, 14]

Which companies manufacture styrene?

Companies that have reported the manufacture of styrene include Agilyx Corporation, Americas Styrenix, Deltech, Dynachem, Equilon Enterprises, Ineos Styrenics, Lyondell, Shell, Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, and Westlake.[9]

How can I reduce my exposure?

• Avoid polystyrene food packaging (including “Styrofoam”-type expanded polystyrene as well as hard plastic polystyrene). Safer alternatives for food packaging exist, such as biodegradable options like recycled paper/cardboard, bagasse, bamboo and bamboo leaf, palm leaf, paper fiber, wheat fiber, and wood.[15]
• Avoid plastic kitchen utensils and other food-contact items. It can be hard to identify what types of plastics are used in these products, but styrene-based plastics can make their way into these items through recycled content. Use wooden or stainless steel utensils and reusable glass containers.

What’s the solution?

It is impossible for us to shop our way out of this problem. And we shouldn’t have to. When you walk into a store, you should be able to trust that the products on store shelves are safe.

Companies shouldn’t sell products with dangerous chemicals—especially as scientists continue to learn more about the “silent epidemic” caused by the cumulative impact of all the toxic chemicals we are regularly exposed to. And our state and federal governments shouldn’t allow chemicals on the market until they’re proven safe.

The only way to protect everyone from toxic chemicals like styrene, ethylbenzene, and the plastics made from these chemicals is to change policies at government and corporate levels to make sure that safer solutions are the norm.

We’re fighting every day to protect you and your loved ones from toxic chemicals like this. To join our fight, please consider making a donation, taking action with us, or signing up for our email list.